Lens array element and image display device

Abstract

A stereoscopic display device includes a display panel performing image display, and a lens array element including a first electrode, a second electrode opposed to the first electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the lens array element being configured in such a manner that a lens effect on display image light from the display panel is controlled depending on a voltage applied to the first electrode and a voltage applied to the second electrode. One of the first electrode and the second electrode is structured to allow an electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal layer for each of a plurality of predetermined sub-regions, individually.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stereoscopic display device comprising:
 a display panel performing image display; and 
 a lens array element including a first electrode, a second electrode opposed to the first electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the lens array element being configured in such a manner that a lens effect on display image light from the display panel is controlled depending on a voltage applied to the first electrode and a voltage applied to the second electrode, 
 wherein one of the first electrode and the second electrode is structured to allow an electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal layer for each of a plurality of predetermined sub-regions, individually, and 
 wherein the plurality of predetermined sub-regions are the same in size. 
 
     
     
       2. The stereoscopic display device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 part of the plurality of predetermined sub-regions in the lens array element are set into a state in which the lens effect is active so that the display image light from the display panel is refracted to allow stereoscopic vision, thereby to achieve three-dimensional display in the part of the sub-regions, and 
 the remainder of the plurality of predetermined sub-regions in the lens array element are set into a state in which the lens effect is inactive so that the display image light from the display panel passes through the remainder of the sub-regions without refraction, thereby to achieve two-dimensional display in the remainder of the sub-regions. 
 
     
     
       3. The stereoscopic display device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first electrode as a whole is a planar electrode, 
 the second electrode includes a plurality of line electrodes arranged to extend in a vertical direction with gaps between the line electrodes, the second electrode being configured to have a predetermined common voltage applied to the line electrodes, and 
 the planar electrode is configured of a plurality of divided electrodes corresponding to the plurality of predetermined sub-regions, respectively. 
 
     
     
       4. The stereoscopic display device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first electrode is a planar common electrode to a whole of which a predetermined common voltage is applied, 
 the second electrode includes a plurality of line electrodes which are arranged to extend in a vertical direction with gaps between the line electrodes, and 
 the plurality of line electrodes are divided into a plurality of electrode groups corresponding to the plurality of predetermined sub-regions, respectively, the electrode groups being electrically separated from one another. 
 
     
     
       5. The stereoscopic display device according to  claim 2 , wherein the lens array element, in a region where the lens effect is active, exhibits a lens effect which is substantially equivalent to a lens effect of a plurality of cylindrical lenses arranged in parallel in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
       6. A stereoscopic display device comprising:
 a display panel performing image display; and 
 a lens array element including a first electrode, a second electrode opposed to the first electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the lens array element being configured in such a manner that a lens effect on display image light from the display panel is controlled depending on a voltage applied to the first electrode and a voltage applied to the second electrode, wherein 
 one of the first electrode and the second electrode is structured to allow an electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal layer for each of a plurality of predetermined sub-regions, individually, 
 a first sub-region and one or more second sub-regions are provided as the plurality of predetermined sub-regions, and 
 the first sub-region is allocated as the part of the plurality of predetermined sub-regions for three-dimensional display, and the second sub-regions are allocated as the remainder of the plurality of predetermined sub-regions for two-dimensional display. 
 
     
     
       7. The stereoscopic display device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 part of the plurality of predetermined sub-regions in the lens array element are set into a state in which the lens effect is active so that the display image light from the display panel is refracted to allow stereoscopic vision, thereby to achieve three-dimensional display in the part of the sub-regions, and 
 the remainder of the plurality of predetermined sub-regions in the lens array element are set into a state in which the lens effect is inactive so that the display image light from the display panel passes through the remainder of the sub-regions without refraction, thereby to achieve two-dimensional display in the remainder of the sub-regions. 
 
     
     
       8. A stereoscopic display device comprising:
 a display panel performing image display; and 
 a lens array element including a first electrode, a second electrode opposed to the first electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the lens array element being configured in such a manner that a lens effect on display image light from the display panel is controlled depending on a voltage applied to the first electrode and a voltage applied to the second electrode, 
 wherein one of the first electrode and the second electrode is divided into a plurality of predetermined sub-regions which are electrically separated from one another, and 
 wherein the plurality of predetermined sub-regions are the same in size. 
 
     
     
       9. The stereoscopic display device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first electrode as a whole is a planar electrode, 
 the second electrode includes a plurality of line electrodes arranged to extend in a vertical direction with gaps between the line electrodes, the second electrode being configured to have a predetermined common voltage applied to the line electrodes, and 
 the planar electrode is configured of a plurality of divided electrodes corresponding to the plurality of predetermined sub-regions, respectively. 
 
     
     
       10. The stereoscopic display device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first electrode is a planar common electrode to a whole of which a predetermined common voltage is applied, 
 the second electrode includes a plurality of line electrodes which are arranged to extend in a vertical direction with gaps between the line electrodes, and 
 the plurality of line electrodes are divided into a plurality of electrode groups corresponding to the plurality of predetermined sub-regions, respectively, the electrode groups being electrically separated from one another. 
 
     
     
       11. The stereoscopic display device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 part of the plurality of predetermined sub-regions in the lens array element are set into a state in which the lens effect is active so that the display image light from the display panel is refracted to allow stereoscopic vision, thereby to achieve three-dimensional display in the part of the sub-regions, and 
 the remainder of the plurality of predetermined sub-regions in the lens array element are set into a state in which the lens effect is inactive so that the display image light from the display panel passes through the remainder of the sub-regions without refraction, thereby to achieve two-dimensional display in the remainder of the sub-regions.